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Are You Working Out Enough? This Study Will Tell You

Some gym time is better than no gym time at all, but after years of experts telling us that breaking a sweat for half an hour every day should do the trick, a new study shows that we need to step it up—and double that time, at least.

After monitoring 370,460 people over 15 years, researchers found that those who exercised for about 30 minutes every day—which, by the way, is the amount recommended by the American Heart Association—only lowered their risk for heart failure "modestly." However, those who exercised for anywhere from one to two hours per day reduced their risk of heart failure by 20% to 35%.

Bottom line: Again, we'd say going out for a 30-minute jog is far better than parking it on the couch with your computer (for reasons beyond heart health), but it's definitely something to keep in mind next time you're on the fence about that hour-long dance cardio class. Go for it!

Even if you don't feel like making the trek to the gym, try breaking a sweat at home—we love Mara Hoffman's Yoga Mat ($118), which has a slightly slippery surface that forces your muscles to compensate in order to maintain your balance. It's a sneaky burn!

How much do you usually work out per day? Tell us in the comments below!